Can flattening device



July 23, 1957 1 c. WILSON ETAL 2, 0,

I INVENTOR. Alvin 611442 502? 4 BYf/eZen MW! 2602:

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,800,160 CAN FLATTEN'INGDEVICE Alvin C.Wilson and Helen K. Wilson, Boulder, Colo. Application December 10,1953, Serial No. 397,432 1 Claim. e1. 153-105 This invention'r'ela't'e's'to' a can flattening device and more particularly to acanfla't'tening device adapted for use in the household. I' 7 Manymunicipalities throughout the United States have ordinances whichrequire that tin cans be crushed or flattened after the contents havebeen removed in order that they may be disposed of easily. Even wherethe law does not require flattened cans, the housewife is able to saveconsiderable space in her kitchen if she does not have to provide alarge receptacle for discarded tin cans.

Several complicated, and therefore expensive, can crushing devices areavailable commercially; however, their use is restricted primarily toinstitutions such as hotels, restaurants, hospitals and the like, thatcan justify their expense. These devices are designed to flatten thelarge size cans that are purchased by the above institutions and arefrequently combined with means for cutting out the ends. Although theaforementioned crushing devices are useful for institutions having aconsiderable number of used cans to be disposed of, they are whollyunsuitable for use in the household where what is needed is aninexpensive, simple device constructed to flatten only the type can usedin the home.

It is the object of this invention to provide a can crushing device foruse in the home which will provide the essentials outlined above. Thedevice claimed herein is simply constructed of inexpensive materials,provided with means whereby the great force necessary to completelyflatten a tin can is not required, and means for retaining the can inposition between the jaws at the inception of the flattening operation.

Other objects of the present invention will be in part specificallypointed out hereafter, or will become apparent from the followingdescription wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Figure 1 shows a waste receptacle positioned next to a part of a kitchenwall on which is suspended the can crushing device, the constructionofwhich is to be described in detail in connection with the remainingfigures, and a portion of the forearm and hand of the person operatingsaid device.

Figure 2 is a front elevation taken in the direction of arrows 2-2,Figure 3, showing a movable jaw, handle, hinge and supporting means.

Figure 3 is a side elevation taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 ofFigure 2, showing the relationship between the movable jaw and a fixedjaw with respect to a tin can and an adjustable stop member.

Figure 4 is a perspective view taken in the direction of arrow 4 inFigure 2 showing a pin in the adjustable stop member and spaced holes inthe fixed jaw for reception of the pin.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawing in which is shown a wall towhich is afiixed the can flattening device 11 to be described in detailherein. Said can flattening device is positioned with the openingbetween the movable jaw 12 and the fixed jaw 13 facing downward2,800,160 Patented July 23, 1957 2 in such manner that when a person,represented by hand 14, completesthe can flattening operation and raisesthe movable jaw, the tin can 15 will fall into a waste receptacle 16positioned below. Although the can flattening device can be used quite"easily while lying horizontal on a table or drainboard with the movablejaw on top,- it is convenient to position it on a wall as shown inFigure -1. It should be noted that if the can flattening device -is'used on a horizontal surface his not necessary to attach it to suchsurface, thereby making it possible to store it in a drawer when not inuse. When used in horizontal possi tion, .jaw '13 must either be as longas the movable .jaw 12 or it must be attached to the flat su face. W

Figure 2 shows a front view of a can flattening device having a movablefjaw 12 of substantially rectangular shape, secured along its topfend toone side of hinge 17 h and formed at the lower end into a narrowerhandle portion 18, shown with a beveled edge to permit a firm gripwithout injuring the hand. Means for suspending the device on a wall areindicated by the brackets 19 which are secured to the back of the fixedjaw.

In Figure 3 will 'be seen a side view of the device claimed hereinshowing the movable jaw and the fixed jaw pivotally connected to oneanother in spaced relation by the hinge. An adjustable stop 20 isinterposed transversely between the movable and the fixed jaws and isadjustably attached to the fixed jaw by means of at least two pins 21which passthrough the stop into corresponding holes 22 in the fixed jaw.Several sets of holes are provided in the fixed jaw to permit adjustmentof the stop for tin cans of various sizes. The fiixed and movable jawsare fastened to the hinge in such relation that the inner surface of thejaws will be approximately parallel when the movable jaw rests againstthe stop. The fixed jaw is approximately the same shape and size as themovable jaw without the handle portion. Both jaws are preferablyconstructed of a hardwood board having a thickness of one-half inch orgreater in order that they will be strong enough to withstand the stressof flattening tin cans without breaking. The jaws should be wide enoughto cover the average can used in the home with it is laid between thejaws with its axis horizontal; however, it is not necessary to have thejaws so'wide that they will cover large cans, such as fruit juice andshortening cans, because these may be flattened in two or moreoperations. The length of the movable jaw must be adequate to permit awoman to apply the force needed to flatten a large tin can; such as, thelength including the handle approximately three times the width. Thefixed jaw must not extend below the point at which the movable jawnarrows to form the handle or the operators fingers would be squeezedbetween the jaws and the jaws could not close fully.

Figure 4 shows the upper right hand corner of the flattening device tomore clearly illustrate manner in which the stop is adjustably securedto the fixed jaw and how the movable jaw is mounted for pivotal movementon the fixed jaw by means of the hinge.

In order to operate the can flattening device described above, the tincan to be flattened is inserted between the fixed and movable jaws withits axis horizontal, the lower portion of the can resting on the stop.The jaws are closed by hand pressure on the handle of the movable jawuntil the movable jaw engages the stop on the fixed jaw. The stop ispositioned relative to the pivot point in the holes in the fixed jaw tofacilitate flattening cans of different sizes. It should be noted thatthe stop makes it unnecessary to hold the can between the jaws as theforce exerted on the can by the weight of the movable jaw is sufficientto hold the can against the stop and prevent its being forced frombetween the jaws. In order to flatten large cans, one end may bepositioned between the jaws and flattened at a time. The stop member andthe spaced relation of the jaws make'it unnece'ssaryto apply-the greatforce needed to crush until the opposite walls touch as the presentdeviceleaves a space between opposite walls of the flattened canapproximately the thickness ofthe stop which is sufiiciently flat foreasy storage and disposal. e

What is claimed as new is: a

A household can flattening device comprising: a fixed jaw member havingat least one substantially flat face; a movable jaw member having asubstantially flat face opposing the flat face of the fixed jaw member;a hinge member connected between the ends of the fixed and movable jawmembers to'perrm't pivotal movement therebetween; a handle formedintegral with the movable jaw member on theend opposite the hingemember, said handle extending beyond the corresponding end of the fixedjaw member; and a stop member attached to the fixed jaw'member in spacedsubstantially parallel relation to the hinge member forming means forengaging the cylindrical surface of an open-ended tin can and holdingsaid can between said hinge and stop members as the movable jaw memberis moved toward the fixed jaw member to flatten the can between thecorresponding opposed flat faces thereof, said stop member beingadjustable on the fixed jaw member into a plurality of spacedsubstantially parallel positions With respect to the hinge member inorder to accommodate cans of difierent diameters spaced therebetweentReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 151,058,792 Rosen Apr. 15, 1913 1,787,095 Stransbaugh Dec..30, 19301,815,180 Bennett July 21, 1931 1,984,627 Blazek etal. Dec. 18, 19342,373,057 Shinn tApr. 3, 1945 20 2,466,907

Nadolny v Apr. 12, 1949

